(Phoenix, Ariz. – Nov. 2, 2006) For the last two months, Sheriff’s detectives have been conducting an undercover computer crimes operation aimed at finding suspects in Maricopa County who are illegally downloading, possessing and distributing child pornography images.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio today, along with Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, announced the arrests of six (6) adults and four (4) teenagers whose charges will be forthcoming. All were sharing what the Sheriff describes as “truly disgusting” images of children, even infants, in very sexual situations.
Infants were photographed with foreign objects inserted in them. Children as young as two were photographed in sexual situations with other children and adults.
The images were being shared via computer and a software program, which all was peer to peer file sharing. The pictures and videos were taken by Sheriff’s detectives to pediatricians at Child Help USA who were then able to determine the approximate ages of those depicted in these photos.
Search warrants were executed at 16 addresses from Avondale to Gilbert. Detectives seized computers and other electronic media for forensic examination.
"Our message on child porn is loud and clear: Stay away from it. Don't share it. Don't download it. Don't even look for it," Attorney General Goddard said. "Arizona is determined to protect children from this kind of abuse."
“This is the tip of the iceberg,” said Sheriff Arpaio. “The Internet is a haven for this type of twisted perversion, and I will keep dedicating resources to combat it.”